Nitrate removal from aquaculture effluents using woodchip bioreactors improved by adding sulfur granules and crushed seashells

This study examined the effects on nitrate removal when adding sulfur granules and crushed seashells to a woodchip bioreactor treating aquaculture effluents. Using a central composite design, the two components were added at three levels (0.000, 0.125 and 0.250 m 3 /m 3 bioreactor volume) to 13 laboratory scale woodchip bioreactors, and a response surface method was applied to find and model the optimal mixture ratios with respect to reactor performance. Adding 0.125 m 3 /m 3 sulfur granules improved the total N removal rate from 3.27 ± 0.38 to 8.12 ± 0.49 g N/m 3 /d compared to pure woodchips. Furthermore, inclusion of crushed seashells together with sulfur granules aided to maintain pH above 7.4 and prevent a production (i.e., release) of nitrite. According to the modelled response surfaces, a sulfur granule:crushed seashell:woodchip mixture ratio containing about 0.2 m 3 sulfur granules and 0.1 m 3 crushed seashells per m 3 reactor volume would give the best results with respect to high N removal and minimal nitrite release. In conclusion the study showed that N removal in woodchip bioreactors may be improved by adding sulfur granules and seashells, contributing to the optimization of woodchip performance in treating aquaculture effluents.